Analysis of a phobia of a five-year old boy - Freud, S. (1909)

All parents will agree that their children go through 'phases' of behaviour. Sigmund Freud had an explanation for that. Along the way, he can also teach you a bit of Greek Literature... and make you feel really uncomfortable!

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What Freud got right...

It is very easy to make fun of Freud's ideas, and to make him seem like a figure of fun. Psychology teachers are as guilty of this as anyone (anything for a laugh...)The picture below is a good example.

But in actual fact, although his ideas seem strange now and although he said them in an unusual (!) way, many of his ideas have been hugely influential and useful, and some of them have been revolutionary.

Read this article from 'The Psychologist' magazine, which helps to set the record straight.